Fashion throughout the 20th Century
The 20th century saw the rise of fashion as a central consideration in the lives of many in the West. As social and cultural taboos and restraints were broken down throughout the century, fashion reflected theses changes. Trends and styles began to change at an increasing rate, and many looks from previous decades experience modern revivals. The following is a decade-by-decade resource for information on the fortunes of fashion in the 20th century.
1900s
In the first decade of the 20th century, female fashions saw the return of the hourglass shape popular in the mid-19th century. Skirts initially brushed along the floor but began to rise to ankle height as the decade wore on. Paris became the fashion capital of the world with haute couture . Large wide-brimmed hats were popular, with female hair worn long and wavy. Male fashion continued in a similar vein to the previous decade, with a slim silhouette and short hair the general fashion.
Fashion in the 1900s: An overview of the major trends in fashion in the first decade of the twentieth century.
Women's Fashion in the 1900s: A resource with images on clothing, hair and accessory fashion amongst women at the turn of the century.
Fashion Illustrations: A collection of fashion photographs and illustrations from 1900 to 1908.
Fashion 1900: A resource for male and female fashion in the Edwardian period.
1910s
There was an abrupt change in fashion after the outbreak of the Great War. In the first half of the decade, fashion trends were characterized by a rich opulence, but this was superseded by more practical styles. Skirts continued to rise to well above ankle length, and female hair was worn shorter.
Women's Fashion in the 1910s: A guide to the basic movements in female fashion in the decade.
Early 20th Century Fashion: A collection of links to articles and image sources for fashion trends between 1911 and 1920.
Dresses of the 1910s: An illustrated overview of fashions in female dresses.
Clothing of the 1910s: An image gallery with links to further resources.
1920s
Fashion entered into a modern era with the advent of the twenties. Male and female fashions radically changed. Women began to wear more comfortable and revealing clothes, and the “Bob” became the haircut of the period. Men began to wear sports clothes and associated fashions, and the style of suits introduced in the 1920s remains virtually unchanged today.
Fashion, Style and Women in the 1920s: A collection of links to fashion resources for the 1920s.
1920s Fashion Images: A gallery of fashion illustrations from the period.
Hairstyles of the 1920s: An overview of male and female hairstyles, with links to further information on other aspects of 1920s fashion.
Jazz - Dictator of Fashion: An article examining the powerful influence of jazz culture on American fashion in the 1920s.
Egyptian Influences on 1920s Fashion: A look at how the popularity of ancient Egypt in the 1920s fed into the dress design of the period.
1930s
The 1930s saw developments in man-made materials, such as nylon and rayon, have a massive influence on clothing. Shoulders became more and more emphasized in both male and female fashion as the decade progressed. Tanning became a fashionable pursuit. Celebrity culture began to exert more and more of an influence on everyday fashion trends.
Fashion in the Thirties: An overview of the major trends in fashion in this decade.
The Stylish Thirties: A comprehensive look at fashion and cultural influences upon it in the 1930s.
What People Wore in the Thirties: An article on 1930s fashions, with accompanying film footage from the period.
Fashion Journalism of the 1930s: A collection of magazine articles on fashion from the 1930s.
1940s
The austerity of wartime again had an effect on fashion trends. Women's hair was worn longer again, and knee-length skirts were matched with simply-cut blouses. The recycling of old outfits became a popular topic in wartime magazines. The influence of American designers began to grow after the war, as Europe recovered from devastation.
Fashion Trends in the War: A look at the state of the fashion industry during World War II.
1940s Fashion Photography: A collection of classic fashion images from the decade.
Shoe Fashions in the Forties: An article looking at changing shoe fashions in the decade, with contemporary illustrations.
1940s Fashion: An illustrated guide to male and female fashions during and after the war.
1950s
The hourglass figure again returned to popularity in female fashion in the 1950s. A smart, tailored look, accompanied by accessories such as gloves and handbags, became popular. Skirts widened, and hair began to be worn in a bouffant style. Male fashion turned towards relaxed sportswear styles, while men's hair remained short, often in a military style. The Fifties were also the first decade in which teenagers began to be a separate fashion and economic market.
1950s Clothing: A comprehensive image gallery of 1950s outfits.
Children's Clothing of the 1950s: A guide to both male and female child fashion in the decade.
Fashion in the Fifties: An overview of the important trends in clothing and hairstyles in the period.
A Guide to the Fashions of the Fifties: A comprehensive set of articles and image galleries on all aspects of fashion in the 1950s.
1960s
The 1960s would see a bewildering number of fashion trends. Fifties fashions remained popular into the first half of the decade, until the massive global impact of the Beatles focused fashion on London. Miniskirts and “Bob” haircuts became fashionable amongst younger women, while men again dressed in sharp suits. As the decade progressed, their was a revival of Victorian styles in the psychedelic period, and of American West influences on the hippy and counter-culture fashions.
1960s Fashion and Textiles: Home to the Victoria and Albert Museum's resources on Sixties fashion.
Fashion Footage of the 1960s: A collection of film footage of famous designers and their work in this decade.
Fashion Through the Sixties: A year-by-year guide to the trends of the 1960s.
The Female Body in the 1960s: A look at how fashion trends and models affected women's body image in this period.
1970s
Hippy fashion trends continued into the first half of the decade, but trousers began to flare sharply out for both genders. The Glam Rock and Disco musical movements re-introduced suits for men, while heavy make-up became popular amongst women and men. Punk fashion, with its torn and shredded look and appropriation of fetish-wear, was a calculated break away from the widespread popularity of other fashion trends.
Vivienne Westwood and Punk Style: An article looking at the famous designer and her influence on fashion in the late 1970s.
1970s Fashion in Eastern Europe: An article examining the cultural effect of Western fashions in the Soviet Bloc.
Seventies Fashion in Great Britain: An illustrated guide to the popular fashions in the United Kingdom in the decade.
1980s
The Eighties saw a move towards a top-heavy silhouette for men and women, with tight trousers and skirts accompanied by puffed and pleated blouses and shirts. Shoulder pads became popular. Suits became a trend amongst both genders. Punk fashions were appropriated and incorporated into mainstream trends. The 1980s also saw the rise in importance of branding and celebrity designers.
The 80s Are Back: Home for the exhibition on 1980s fashion at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Australia.
Japanese Fashion Designers: An article describing the influence of Japanese fashion on the West in the Eighties.
Hip Hop Fashion and the Mainstream: A study of how underground African-American fashions crossed over into the mainstream in the 1980s.
Fashion in the 1980s: A comprehensive resource for fashion trends in the decade.
1990s
Many Nineties fashions were a reaction against the perceived excesses of the previous decade, with minimalist or “anti-fashion” looks, such as grunge, popular. Fashion became more and more split along the lines of youth sub-cultures. African-American styles continued to rise in popularity amongst youths of all racial backgrounds, while celebrity media increasingly focused on celebrities as fashion icons.
1990s Fashion: An illustrated guide to the popular fashion trends in the Nineties.
Fashion Influences in the 1990s: An overview of fashion in the decade.
Fads and Fashions of the Nineties: An overview of the most important trends in Nineties fashion, with links to further information.
Fashion for the Few: An article on how catwalk fashion influenced women's body image in the Nineties and beyond.
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